A BESPOKE uniform tailors has been given the royal seal of approval with a visit from Princess Anne.
The Princess Royal arrived to Samuel Brothers main workroom in Freshfields Road, Parkeston, to meet with managing director Lee Dawson and 13 members of staff.
She met the after granting the company with a royal warrant as tailors to Her Majesty the Queen.
Tailor - Lucy Campbell explains her job role to Princess Anne
The Princess arrived as the President of the United Kingdom Fashion and Textile Association and shares a passion for British made garments.
Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant and High Sherriff of Essex, as well as other dignitaries, Princess Anne was shown how uniforms are made for some of the regiments in the British Army.
Mr Dawson said the company was honoured to meet Princess Anne.
He said: “I was very excited, and slightly nervous to meet the Princess.
“Her Royal Highness really enjoyed her visit and she felt relaxed and comfortable with the surroundings in an environment where she is extremely knowledgeable.
"This in turn relaxed the staff around her.”
He added: “Receiving the royal warrant as tailors to the Queen was a huge honour and recognition for the staff to the quality and service the company delivers at.”
Samuel Brothers was established in 1830 as a gentlemen’s outfitters, and today it is a bespoke military tailors for regiments including the Royal Army Nursing Corps and the Royal Airforce Music Services.
In 2008, the company opened a unit in Parkeston and hired four employees who had previous experience working for Bernard Uniforms in the town.
Company - Samuel Brothers' staff members in Parkeston
In just under a decade Parkeston has become Samuel Brothers’ main workroom with staff numbers having increased to 13.
Donna Jewell, who has been working at the factory since it opened, said Princess Anne was genuinely interested in the uniforms made there.
She said: “She came across as such a nice lady and had a conversation with all of us about the company for about an hour and a half.
“When she started speaking to us our nerves began to lift and we really enjoyed our meeting with her.”
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